The Future of the Obesity Management Landscape: Challenges, Opportunities and Solutions

ABSTRACT Objective In July 2023 a diverse group of international experts from academia, healthcare and medical technology/pharmacological companies gathered to discuss the current global landscape in the management of obesity, identify the clinical challenges healthcare systems are facing, and the gaps in scientific knowledge. Approach We proposed ways that the academia‐industry‐healthcare‐interface can be strengthened to offer solutions to these challenges and fill the gaps in knowledge. Conclusion We identified these five priorities for action: (1) Enhancing the academia‐healthcare‐industry collaboration in a way that prioritizes the patient with obesity and healthcare economic value. (2) Identifying reliable biomarkers and predictors of obesity treatment response to determine as early as possible whether a specific therapy is likely to work. (3) Defining specific and individualized treatment targets that take account of heterogeneity of obesity‐related complications risk, the presence of multimorbidity, and patient preference. (4) Addressing bias and discrimination against people with obesity amongst clinicians, health policy makers and the wider public. (5) Combining randomized controlled trial and cohort study data to apply next generation “machine learning” and “artificial intelligence” methods to large datasets that accelerates identification of factors associated with response heterogeneity and successful treatment response prediction.